Review #2 of the opening Van Halen in show in NC!

At the gate we were informed that there in fact was a huge difference between a digital camera that did not also double as a communication device and one that did……the one that did was more than acceptable and cooler than all hell to carry inside…….

The one that did not was really really bad and needed to be returned to the car which

you learned previously was parked in a spot designated for such an activity…….luckily this area was not very far away………

upon entrance into the arena we made out way to our private box seats which really weren’t all that private as there were thousands of other people all around us…………

They were nice and cushiony though………and located within a box type area to keep us away from all the lowly commoners who did not have the connections necessary to score such bad ass seats as these………

Once we were seated we noticed some people on stage……they appeared to be some sort of musical act as they were playing some musical instruments and projecting their voices in a somewhat musical manner………

That’s about all that needs to be said of whoever the hell they were as nobody gave a fuck……….

Then the lights went out which is the universally accepted signal that the next band in about to begin……..

a few seconds later they did………..Van Halen being the "they"

They opened with You Really Got Me which I thought was a bad choice for an opening song………but hey……..who the fuck am I????

Now I want to say right now before I go any further that from where we were sitting…….the sound was pretty good……….

but all I have heard from other friends who were seated as various spots throughout the area is that is sounded like poop…………almost as if a Black Label Society or Buck Cherry album was playing………thankfully that was not actually the case………

But getting back to Van Halen………

two of my buds were seated upper level on Eddie’s side and both are very musically intelligent people and not your typical tone deaf retard in the least……….

And they both said that they had a very hard time even being able to identify either of the first two songs……..

They said that about halfway through the show it got a little better but that the sound was so bad that they wanted to leave and were pissed at paying good money for their seats………..

To be fair……..I have heard that previous concerts at the Bobcats Arena sounded like shit too so maybe it’s just a bad place to see a show….

There was feedback occurring all through the show though……….on at least 10 occasions it was very noticeable………might be a new soundman in tow by the time they make it to Greensboro…….that shit is inexcusable………especially when it lasts for over half the show………

Playing wise the band were pretty damn tight………

There were a few spots where things got off a little……most noticeably in Hot For Teacher………but they got it back together before it turned into a train wreck or a Motley Crue concert……..

Performance wise I would say there is huge room for improvement which I’m sure will come as they get more shows under their belt………

I told my wife I’d like to see the show again if they come back around on another leg

just to see if they loosen up a little…….it’s was almost like they were too worried about not making a mistake to really let loose and just kick out the jams……..the case for just about any band on opening night of a new tour I’m sure……..

The band ain’t exactly a bunch of spring chickens anymore but it would be nice to see a little more movement and interaction…..

Dave wasn’t really in full Diamond Dave mode last night………a few little quips and jokes but for the most part he just thanked everyone and then introduced the next song……..

"Get off that fat dress and get on the mattress" was one line I remember………

Other than that he was pretty subdued though……..Hopefully that will change.

He might be handcuffed a little with all that stuff……..who knows???

Vocally he was fine……..at one point he seemed to get a little horse but then he got his second wind and sound great for the last quarter of the show…….

Highlights to me were Ain’t Talkin’ Bout Love and Jamie’s Crying……..not necessarily my fave songs but they really sounded good all around doing them……..

Eddie kidded around with Wolf a few times……once running across the stage and then dropping to his knees and sliding to a stop at his feet as Wolf did some backing vocals……..on another occasion they walked up to each other and kissed……..

Alex just played and really didn’t react too much to anything………

Wolf??? He’s really young so I’ll be nice…….the vocals??? as good as they need to be……….damn good job. The bass playing??? Once again…….servicable……no glaring mistakes……..just as good as Anthony as far as playing the notes……..

his stage presence? Nonexistent……..once again……..hopefully it will improve with more shows……..I’m sure he was scared shitless………but he kept his feet planted on the stage and barely moved from the waist down………

He needs to loosen up a little, bend those knees, and get the fuck on down with his bad self………

SIGN OF THE NIGHT…..held by some guys right up front during "Cradle"

HAVE YOU SEEN WOLFIES GRADES???

funny occurrence of the night…….

Dave was onstage by himself doing his little "Ice Cream Man" intro and it came time for the rest of the band to come back on to join along…….

Well I don’t know if Eddie was taking a piss or getting his dick sucked……but somehow he got caught with his pants down and missed his cue……..

he made it back on stage just in time but his pants were unbuttoned and his guitar strap was not fastened……….

He was able to play be kneeling down a little and resting his guitar on his knee until he was finally able to get the strap around his neck……..

the pants were a different story………

as one point he dropped down to his knees to solo and from our vantage point we were treated to approximately 47 seconds of Edward Van Halen butt crack……..

A nice little bonus depending on who you asked I reckon……..

well, that’s about all I feel like saying………

I had a good time and enjoyed the show overall………

And will go back later on if they do another leg in my area to see if they have improved

the show…….